I ordered a Kitchari Kit the other day after reading about its ability to gently detoxify the body. It’s a traditional Ayurvedic dish that, in addition to detoxifying, also balances all three Doshas – Vata (wind), Pitta (fire), Kapha (earth). Everyone has each Dosha present, but generally each person will present one or two Doshas more dominantly. I just took this quiz to determine my most dominant Doshas, and they are Vata and Pitta. Each person will have a unique ratio of these forces present.

Let me back up a moment before I assume that you are familiar with Ayurveda (I wasn’t until recently). In short, Ayurveda is a system of natural healing that has been around for five thousand years. It originated with the Vedic culture of India, but has spread throughout the world as a trusted method for maintaining good health. Ayur means life, and Veda means knowledge (or science). Doshas are the three major energies or forces that influence our lives, and they can be in balance or out of balance – which looks different for each person depending on their Dosha composition.

Now, back to the Kitchari… I am awaiting its arrival. Of course, you do not need to purchase a kit. You could buy the ingredients individually and make your own. Here is a recipe from The Ayurvedic Institute’s Website (many recipes vary slightly depending on an individual’s preferences):

When you eat Kitchari, you are boosting your immune system, helping your digestive system, and cleansing your body of toxins found in processed foods. It is a tridoshic dish, which means it is suitable for anyone regardless of dominant Dosha. Depending on how involved you want your cleanse to be, you can eat this dish for one day, or for weeks. Ayurveda considers this a complete dish, so you won’t have to worry about lacking nutrients you need to maintain your health.

When is a good time for a cleanse? Any time you are feeling out of balance, which could take the form of feeling anxious, depressed, or sick. You may be lacking a craving for any specific dish; this is also a great meal to turn to in these instances. Kitchari provides a great cleanse for anyone who wants to do their body a favor without skipping meals, and it’s affordable.

Have you ever done a Kitchari cleanse? What was it like? What’s your favorite cleansing method?